be
mine tools and
tricks for DIY Valentine's Day cards
by Meredith Keller
| 1 23

Everyone
refers to Valentine's Day as the Hallmark holiday. With that in mind the
quintessential Valentine's Day gift would have to be a card. So why are
all the offerings from Hallmark so disappointing? I used to spend hours
in the card section looking for a card with even a hint of character --
something that fit the personality of me and the card's recipient. With
the time I spent wandering the aisles of my local drug store I could
have been at home, making a card that would surpass anything
store-bought.

Making the perfect card might
sound a little intimidating but with a few hints, the right tools and a
bit of practice you'll be able to create a masterpiece in no time.

the toolsCardstock| Using a nice heavy base will give your handmade card a more professional
look, not to mention make it more durable. Your local craft store is
sure to supply card stock, and you might even be able to find it at a
place like Target or an office supply store. Alternatively, if you want
to save cash, look for a blank card in the dollar store. Even if it has
something hideous on the front, that's okay; no one will know by the
time you're done decorating it.

Adhesive| I recommend having double-sided tape and a paste stick on hand. Both
work nicely on paper without causing wrinkling and bubbling. The good
old-fashioned white stuff you used in kindergarten might come into play
depending on your materials, but you'll want to use it very sparingly
and never to secure paper.

Decorative
paper| Get your hands on some pretty paper. The scrapbooking aisle of a Target
or craft store will offer a good selection; in bigger cities, you might
also have access to specialty paper stores, which stock an even more
exciting range of options (like Paper
Source,
which has shops scattered around the country). For those operating on a
shoestring budget, scour for scraps of cool paper in old magazines that
you have lying around, or make use of leftover gift-wrap. Wherever you
snag your materials, as you choose papers, think about what patterns and
colors might look nice together as well as the overall style you are
trying to achieve. Is this card going to your boyfriend? If so, you'll
probably want to skip the frills and pastels in favor of simple patterns
in more traditionally masculine colors, like reds and maroons. If you're
making something for your mom, on the other hand, peach and pink shades
might be perfectly appropriate.